Whenever I feel uninspired, I look up and see a Monet print hanging on my wall. Even accidental glances during a meeting will spark my imagination and point me back to a few things that I don't want to forget about my work.

But first, a fun fact.

Did you know that Claude Monet personally designed the gardens and ponds that inspired his paintings? For forty years, he cultivated every inch of his property in Giverny, France. Monet called it his "living canvas" and considered it an extension of his artistic practice.

I got to spend a day there in Giverny last May, along with hundreds of other people from around the world. I truly don't think I have enough adjectives to describe the experience, but "enchanting" is a start.

So what does any of this have to do with work?
Well, everything.

That little poster on my wall is a visual reminder about the value of two things I try to carry into everything I do.

1. PERSISTENCE.
Claude Monet spent nearly half a century experimenting with texture, light, and color combinations in his beloved garden. Talk about patience! It reminds me to see the long game in my own creativity and keep learning new things. Good work is rarely rushed. It's returned to, again and again, until it's right.

2. ENVIRONMENT.
Our society tends to commodify the artistic process -- rushing it till it is as 'efficient' as possible. Productivity is king, and fast is the speeed.

But we are not just creatures of productivity. We long for beauty. We are drawn to things that last.

I see my work of bringing clients' stories to life through intentional, meaningful language as a parallel to this. The words we put into the world aren't just functional; they're an extension of who we are.

So consider this your encouragement to be persistent in your craft (and a reminder to put something inspiring in your workspace!).